Many treatment options are available for musculoskeletal damage sustained due to trauma and disease. One popular treatment uses components of your blood to heal such issues. PRP therapy can trigger and accelerate your body’s healing process for bone, muscular, and joint problems.
While it is groundbreaking, it is also relatively new compared to other orthopedic treatments. Still, it has benefits that make it a more viable option than others.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. It comes from platelets, a type of blood cell that allows your body to clot when you bleed. Platelets can prompt cell reproduction and stimulate the natural healing process, helping your body repair and even replace damaged tissue fast.
Doctors access your PRP by taking blood from your body through a simple blood draw and spinning it in a centrifuge at high speeds. This separates the platelets from the other blood components. Then, they will collect the platelet-rich plasma and put it into an injection to administer into the area of your body needing treatment.
PRP can help treat orthopedic conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
It can also promote the production of synovial fluid, a sticky substance that makes movement easier by lubricating the joints.
What Can You Get Out Of PRP Therapy?
Here are the top four benefits of PRP therapy:
1. Short Recovery Period
Thanks to its minimally invasive nature, PRP therapy only requires the use of 2 needle insertions: one to extract a small amount of blood and one to inject the PRP back into your body. The whole procedure takes one to two hours, which includes the time needed to prepare the PRP and recovery after the injection.
There is no need for anesthesia, numbing agents, or stitches. In fact, this treatment is so safe and straight forward, you won’t even need to be monitored for long after the PRP is injected. You can simply go home and rest for a day or two. You may notice some minor pain and inflammation in the treatment area, which is normal and expected. After a few days, these symptoms will subside.
2. No Adverse Reactions
PRP is not a forgein substance entering your body, like many medications or corticosteroid injections. PRP causes little to no adverse effects in the body, because it is composed of your blood cells. That also means your body is unlikely to suffer any allergic reactions to PRP.
However, there are still some temporary side effects to PRP therapy. These include bruising, swelling, and redness. These effects result from the needle puncture and usually disappear within a few days.
3. Significant Relief After First Injection
The entire therapy can take a few months to complete, with your provider administering injections in two or three sessions spaced a few weeks apart. However, thanks to the properties of PRP, the first shot is often enough to provide significant pain relief.
The first injection will prompt your condition to start healing. You may start feeling this change within 4 to 6 weeks. Subsequent injections can progress your body’s healing process. You may observe significant improvements gradually over a few months.
4. Peace of Mind
Unlike other forms of treatment for orthopedic conditions, such as arthroplasty, PRP therapy is non-surgical. PRP therapy only requires injections, not incisions. You won’t have to worry about complicated and invasive procedures or the side effects and pain associated with such procedures. You can rest assured that you are recieving a treatment that is far less painful and has a faster recovery than most other invasive procedures – all while delivering great results.
PRP Therapy In Austin, TX
Interested in PRP therapy in Austin, Texas? All-Star Orthopedics of Austin is excited to offer this treatment option to our patients. Our board-certified doctor has exceptional expertise in PRP therapy. We specialize in tailor-made orthopedic treatments for many musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
For more information about PRP therapy, or if you have other orthopedic concerns, call us today at (512) 346-4933. You can also use our convenient online request form to book a consultation with the best orthopedic doctor near you. We look forward to solving your orthopedic problems!
